By Our Reporter
Uganda Marketers Society (UMS) and Makerere Business School (MUBS) have taken an initiative to promote professional skills development and standards among marketing students.
Officials explained that young marketers face challenges in search for jobs if not guided and equipped with skills at their various stages of development.
The remarks were made during the launch of a partnership between these two entities.
University is expected to introduce students to the practice and knowledge of marketing however qualifications such as Chartered Instituted of Marketing (CIM) support students to develop their faculties and prepare them marketing roles in the industry.
A student at university of two and half years needs to be exposed to principles of marketing to grow in order to serve as a professional marketers.
Dr. Timothy Esemu the Dean at the Faculty of Marketing and International Business noted that everyone is obliged to contribute towards the development of this country as stipulated in National Development Plan III (NDP III).
“So I implore each and every one of you to explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and know where marketing becomes relevant in Uganda,”he said.
He commended marketing professionals for their effort to come and interact with students for their intellectual and professional growth.
Joan Nuwaruhanga, the CIM ambassador in Uganda for Higher Institutions presented the Uganda Marketers Society’s vision said students need to market themselves before thinking of any product or service and also emphasized the need for people need to see value in you as marketer.
” For another thing, young marketers need to join Uganda Marketers Society to find opportunities to network and interact with professionals and find mentors in the industry,”said Nuwaruhnga.
Dr. Ben Mugerwa, the head of Professional Studies at Uganda Management Institute emphasised the need to develop professionals to take up marketing roles in the region and grow in leadership.
He noted an example for the banking sector in Uganda where KCB and Equity Bank are now full of Ugandans in marketing roles which previous wasn’t the case.
The code of conduct and ethics for marketers is a must so that marketers are not looked at as liars.
He added that marketers should always come up with new ideas and tell us new ways of doing business and they must have qualities that inspire others.
David Balikuddembe the UMS president discussed the journey of MUBS becoming a CIM accredited study center with support from UMS.
He talked about the aspect of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) such as CIM’s unique CPD programme that helps students achieve the understanding and expertise that are expected of today’s marketing professionals.
